Предусилители — Yamaha C-5000

The C-5000 is the stereo preamplifier of Yamaha's 5000 series, an all-analogue control unit with an onboard MM/MC phono section. It was designed together with the M-5000 power amplifier and the GT-5000 turntable, so that the three form an end-to-end balanced signal chain across Yamaha's top two-channel models. It has no digital inputs, a deliberate choice for an analogue-focused preamplifier.

Key specs that matter

Inputs are six RCA (phono, tuner, CD, line 1, line 2 and external) and four balanced XLR (phono, balanced 1 and 2, and external), with one balanced and three RCA outputs. Balanced inputs present 52 kilohms and RCA inputs 47 kilohms. MC loading can be set to 10, 30, 100 or 300 ohms, and the MM input offers 52 or 47 kilohms balanced or unbalanced. Frequency response is 10Hz to 100kHz (+0/-3dB), and THD+N is 0.01% from balanced input to balanced output. RIAA accuracy is within +/-0.5dB. The headphone output delivers 35mW into 32 ohms. The chassis measures 435 x 142 x 451mm and weighs 19.1kg, and power consumption is 60W.

Engineering and use context

The C-5000 is built as two mirror-image mono preamplifiers in one case. Yamaha's folding-book circuit board places the left and right signal paths as exact mirror images, so both channels are physically identical in layout, which helps channel matching and keeps ground loops short when other components are connected. The signal runs fully balanced and discrete through every stage, from input to output, when the tone controls are bypassed. Yamaha's patented floating design is used in the phono equalisation, input amplifier and line amplifier stages, electrically isolating these circuits from chassis ground so ground-borne noise has no path into the signal. Each channel has its own toroidal transformer dedicated to the audio circuits, separate from the control power supply, and toroids were chosen for their low magnetic leakage. The chassis is copper-plated to reduce electrical interference. The balanced phono input is intended for turntables such as the GT-5000, which can send a balanced signal directly from the cartridge.

Pairing

The balanced XLR output is designed to feed the M-5000 power amplifier, but it works with any power amplifier with balanced or single-ended inputs. Trigger and remote connections allow the C-5000 to switch the rest of the system. The MC loading options and balanced phono input suit high-end moving-coil cartridges without a separate step-up transformer.

Alternatives

Yamaha's own C-2100 is a smaller analogue preamplifier for buyers who do not need the C-5000's fully floating balanced architecture.